IHG One Rewards made substantial improvements to its elite benefit offering in 2022. Most obviously, Diamond members can now enjoy complimentary breakfast.

IHG has also made it easy for members to try out Diamond status for themselves. In the summer, IHG ran a status challenge that was open to all. (click here for details) And on October 13-14, IHG mistakenly allowed members to sign up for “Instant Diamond” status. (and didn’t seem to penalize anybody for trying…)

You might also have held Spire status in prior years – perhaps mostly due to credit card spend or COVID-related extensions – and found your status converted into Diamond status mid-year.

In any of these scenarios, your Diamond status might be expiring on December 31st, 2022. But you don’t have to just sit back and accept the downgrade…

Sign-up for Ambassador

Signing up for Ambassador costs $200 or 40,000 IHG points and is probably worthwhile in its own right.

If you sign up before December 31, 2022 and stay two nights at an InterContinental, Kimpton, or Regent hotel before January 31, 2023 (two separate one-night stays also works fine), you will receive 20,000 bonus points.

You will also receive the standard benefits of Ambassador status.

Elite Status with IHG One Rewards

The published terms of Ambassador status make clear that you will receive Platinum status with IHG One Rewards.

However, there is a glitch/loophole/travel hack – call it what you wish – that you can hopefully take advantage of.

If you are CURRENTLY a Diamond member and you become an Ambassador this December, you should see your Diamond status extended until December 31, 2023!

I signed up for Ambassador recently and within minutes I received an email from IHG One Rewards.

 

A quick check of my IHG One Rewards account shows that my Diamond status will expire on December 31, 2023 – despite only 3 nights spent during 2022…

Bottom Line

As with all unpublished travel hacks, this might not work for everybody and/or IHG might decide to close this loophole.

But if you are currently hold Diamond status with IHG One Rewards and won’t be able to renew it the normal way – 70 nights or 120,000 Elite Qualifying Points – then an investment of $200 in Ambassador status is well worth it…